The cost of a website redesign in Canada depends mainly on how much changes: a visual refresh of an existing site costs far less than rebuilding the structure, content and technology. At AIM Infotech, redesign projects use the same fixed packages as new websites, at $1,400, $2,200 or $4,500 one-time (plus GST), or a monthly plan from $129, $199 or $399. The biggest hidden cost is not the design; it is losing search traffic because old URLs were not redirected properly.
This guide explains the three types of redesign, what drives the price, how to protect your SEO and how to budget for the project.
Refresh, rebuild or full redesign?
"Redesign" covers very different projects. Knowing which one you need is the first step to an accurate budget.
| Type | What changes | What stays | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual refresh | Colours, fonts, images, layout of key pages | Platform, page structure, most content and URLs | A site that works but looks dated |
| Rebuild | Platform and code, often design too | Most content and the main page structure | Slow, insecure or hard-to-edit sites |
| Full redesign | Strategy, structure, content, design and technology | Your brand and the useful content you choose to keep | Sites that no longer match the business or generate leads |
Signs you need more than a refresh
- Your team cannot easily edit the site, or relies on a developer for small changes.
- Pages load slowly on mobile.
- The site runs on outdated software that can no longer be updated safely.
- Your services, locations or audience have changed since the site was built.
- Visitors arrive but rarely call, book or submit a form.
What drives website redesign cost
Number and type of pages
A five-page brochure site costs less to redesign than a site with dozens of service and location pages. Templates that repeat (blog posts, service pages) are cheaper per page than unique layouts.
Content work
Reusing existing text is cheaper than rewriting it. However, a redesign is often the best time to improve service pages, update photos and remove outdated content. Decide early who will write and supply new content, because content delays are a common reason projects run late.
Platform change
Staying on the same platform is simpler. Moving from an old builder or outdated theme to a new platform involves migrating content, rebuilding forms and setting up redirects. See our comparison of WordPress vs custom websites if you are considering a switch.
Features and integrations
Booking tools, online payments, CRM connections, member areas and online stores each add design, development and testing time. An online store usually belongs in an e-commerce development project rather than a standard redesign.
SEO migration
Mapping old URLs to new ones, setting up redirects, preserving titles and descriptions, and checking indexing after launch take time, but this work protects the traffic you already have.
Performance and accessibility
Optimising images, reducing scripts and making the site usable with a keyboard and screen readers should be part of any redesign, not an add-on.
AIM Infotech redesign pricing
We price redesigns using the same transparent packages as new websites. Your package depends on the scope, not on whether you already have a site.
| One-time package | Monthly plan | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|
| $1,400 | $129/month | Small sites that need a modern look and better mobile experience |
| $2,200 | $199/month | Growing businesses needing more pages, stronger SEO foundations and lead capture |
| $4,500 | $399/month | Larger sites, more complex structures and extra features |
All prices are in Canadian dollars and exclude GST. One-time projects start with a 50% deposit and include two rounds of revisions and a 30-day bug-fix window after launch. Monthly plans have a 12-month minimum term. Check the pricing page for exactly what each package includes; if your project needs something outside a package, we will quote it in writing before work starts.
Choosing the right package
Start with the number of pages and features you need, not the price. If you are unsure, describe your current site and goals in a short discovery call. We will recommend the smallest package that does the job and explain anything that would push the project into a higher tier, so there are no surprises later.
One-time payment or monthly plan?
| Consideration | One-time package | Monthly plan |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Higher, with a 50% deposit | Lower, spread across the term |
| Commitment | Project-based | 12-month minimum |
| Cash flow | One larger expense | Predictable monthly cost |
| Best for | Businesses that prefer to pay once | Businesses that want to preserve cash |
How to protect your SEO during a redesign
A redesign that changes URLs is, in Google's terms, a site move. Google's guidance on site moves with URL changes recommends:
- Creating a mapping of every old URL to its most relevant new URL.
- Using permanent server-side redirects (301 or 308) from old URLs to new ones.
- Avoiding redirect chains where possible.
- Updating internal links to point directly to the new URLs.
- Using self-referencing canonical tags on new pages.
- Submitting the new sitemap in Search Console.
- Keeping redirects in place for at least one year.
Google also notes that a medium-sized site can take a few weeks for most pages to move in its index, and that rankings may fluctuate during that time. Planning for this avoids panic after launch.
Redesign SEO checklist
- Export a list of all current URLs, including blog posts and images that get traffic.
- Note your top pages by traffic and enquiries before you change anything.
- Keep URLs the same where possible; redirect them where not.
- Carry over page titles, meta descriptions and headings, improving them where needed.
- Test redirects on a staging site before launch.
- After launch, check Search Console for crawl errors and monitor traffic for several weeks.
Our SEO and digital marketing service can handle this migration work and ongoing optimisation afterwards.
Make the new site faster
A redesign is the ideal moment to fix performance. Google's Core Web Vitals documentation recommends a Largest Contentful Paint within 2.5 seconds, an Interaction to Next Paint under 200 milliseconds and a Cumulative Layout Shift below 0.1. Measure your current site before the project starts so you can compare after launch.
The website redesign process
- Discovery: review the current site, goals, audience, analytics and what must be kept.
- Scope and quote: agree pages, features and package in writing, then pay the deposit.
- Structure and content plan: sitemap, URL plan and redirect map.
- Design: key page designs with up to two rounds of revisions.
- Development: build, content entry and integrations on a staging site.
- Testing: mobile, browsers, forms, speed, accessibility and redirects.
- Launch: go live, submit the sitemap and monitor.
- Aftercare: 30-day bug-fix window, then optional ongoing support.
For a wider look at planning a site, read our Edmonton website development guide. You can also see an example project in our Edmonton website rebuild case study.
Budget items people forget
- Domain renewal and hosting, especially if you are changing hosts.
- Premium plugin, font or stock photo licences.
- Professional photography or copywriting.
- Third-party tools such as booking or email marketing subscriptions.
- Staff time to review designs and supply content.
- GST on top of quoted prices.
How to prepare before requesting quotes
- List what works on your current site and what does not.
- Collect two or three websites you like, and say why.
- Decide which pages, services and locations must be included.
- Gather logins for your domain, hosting, analytics and Search Console.
- Agree internally who approves designs and content, and how quickly.
With this information, providers can quote accurately and you can compare quotes on the same scope. For general new-site pricing, see how much a website costs in Canada.
How to measure whether the redesign worked
Set a baseline before the project starts so you can judge results objectively rather than by appearance alone.
| Measure | Where to find it | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiries and form submissions | Form notifications, analytics conversions | More enquiries from the same amount of traffic |
| Phone calls from the website | Call tracking or click-to-call events | An increase in mobile calls |
| Organic search clicks | Google Search Console | Stable or growing clicks after the settling period |
| Indexing and crawl errors | Search Console page indexing report | Old URLs redirecting, new URLs indexed, no unexpected 404s |
| Core Web Vitals | Search Console and PageSpeed Insights | Pages meeting Google's recommended thresholds |
| Engagement | Analytics | Visitors reaching service and contact pages |
Give the new site enough time before drawing conclusions. Search traffic can fluctuate while Google processes redirects, and seasonal businesses should compare the same period year over year.
Redesign in one go or in phases?
If budget is tight, you do not have to change everything at once. A phased approach can work well:
- Phase 1: new design, mobile experience, speed fixes and SEO migration for the core pages.
- Phase 2: rewritten service pages, new location pages and improved calls to action.
- Phase 3: integrations such as booking, CRM connections or automated follow-ups through business automation.
Phasing spreads the cost, but make sure the first phase is built on a structure that can grow, so you are not paying to redo work later.
Accessibility is part of a modern redesign
An accessible website is easier for everyone to use. During a redesign, check colour contrast, heading order, descriptive link text, image alternative text, keyboard navigation and form labels. Fixing these issues while the site is being rebuilt is much easier and cheaper than retrofitting them afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website redesign cost in Canada?
It depends on scope. At AIM Infotech, redesigns use our fixed packages of $1,400, $2,200 or $4,500 one-time, or monthly plans of $129, $199 or $399, all plus GST.
How long does a website redesign take?
Timelines depend on the number of pages, features and how quickly content and feedback are provided. We confirm a timeline in writing once the scope is agreed.
Will a redesign hurt my Google rankings?
It can if URLs change without redirects. With a URL map, permanent redirects and a new sitemap, you can protect your rankings, although some temporary fluctuation is normal.
Should I refresh or fully redesign my website?
Refresh if the site works well but looks dated. Choose a rebuild or full redesign if it is slow, hard to edit, insecure or not generating enquiries.
Can I keep my existing content?
Yes. Useful content can be migrated and improved. A redesign is also a good time to remove outdated pages, with redirects where needed.
Do I own the website after the redesign?
For one-time projects, ownership transfers once the project is paid in full. On a monthly plan, ownership transfers once the outstanding project balance is paid.
Ready to plan your redesign?
Send us your current website address and what you would like to improve. We will recommend a refresh, rebuild or full redesign and give you a fixed quote.
Learn more about our website design and development services.
